ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



7 



late about Ceylon was only indirectly from Batavia. This 

 letter was circulated among the Ceylon Consistories, and as it 

 was considered unsatisfactory that each individual Consistory 

 should correspond with the classis, as had occasionally taken 

 place, one general epistle giving an oversight of their opera- 

 tions throughout the Island was unanimously thought prefer- 

 able. But as it was not advisable that a single Consistory 

 should take upon themselves to state, what not only they but 

 their brethren in other places were doing, the plan was adopt- 

 ed of sending to Colombo once a year deputies from the re- 

 spective stations. The letter above alluded to is in connection 

 with this subject. The Galle Consistory state that they were 

 about to send one of their brethren to be present at the framing 

 of the general Report, and express their willingness to conform, 

 for the sake of uniformity, to all that the united clergy may 

 deem beneficial and necessary in the mode of conducting Ec- 

 clesiastical matters ; and request to that end a copy of their 

 conclusions and arrangements. 



They had just ordained two new elders and four deacons. 

 The Dutch congregation at Galle was in a satisfactory state. 

 Though most of the Military were away from the Fort engaged 

 in skirmishes with Rajah Singa, King of Kandy, yet those 

 who remained and other inhabitants were diligent in the as- 

 sembling of themselves together for divine worship. As to the 

 establishing and extending of native Churches and Schools in 

 the country, nothing could as yet be done ; the Governor Van 

 Goens had visited the district but cursorily, and was not as 

 yet able to express his authoritative opinion as to localities ; 

 and what had been besrun had retrograded on account of the 

 war with the Singhalese King. The clergy hoped that the 

 King's heart might be moved to desire peace and tranquillity. 

 Their Deaconie-funds had suffered much from the cessation of 



